Tag-labeling machine.



P. KOHNLE.

TAG LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1909.

Patented June 4, 1912.

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FREDERICK KOHNLE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' TAG-LABELING MACHINE.

- Patented June 4t, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK KOHNLE,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tag-Labeling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

a My invention relates to a machine for-issuing price tags.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a very simple, small and comparatively cheap machine adapted for com mercial use. In a machine of this type the price tags are formed from a continuous roll of paper and the tags are issued individually, each tag being indented for severance and printed appropriately at its point of issue from the machine. In devices of this character, the roll from which the price tags are formed frequently consist of paper gummed upon one side, so as to be adhesively attached to the articles to be. identified, and for this character of work it is especially desirable to have a positive feed,

and to have the operative parts combined into an organization which will not become choked up or clogged in delivering the gummed strip.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism actuated from a main shaft, adapted to positively feed the tag strip forwardly in step movements to indent the strip to define the individual tags, and

to appropriately print each tag at its point of delivery from the machine, so that the strip is not printed until'it is issued.

Another object of the invention is to provide a step feed mechanism adapted to cooperate with the tag strip pierced at intervals in order to issue the tags of predetermined length, the length of the tags being determined by the distance between the orifices in the paper strip, a given feed being adapted to deliver tags of different length without adjustment, when tape rolls containing different intervals of piercing are interchangeably used.

The features of the invention are more fully set forth in the description of the accompany drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is'a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front end thereof with the strip case cut away. Fig. 3 is a section on line m, as, Fig. 1. Fig.

4 is a section on line w, w, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line 42, c, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of plunger and means for actuating the ink ribbon feed. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the tag strip.

1 represents the base of the machine, upon which is mounted a suitable housing 2. The tags 3 are formed in a continuous strip of paper and wound in rolls supported upon a spindle mounted in the rear portion of the housing. The strip is provided at regular intervals with perforations 4,forming means for positively feeding the same to the indenting and printing mechanism.

7 represents the main shaft, upon the outer end of which is fixed the cam operated crank Wheel 8. The other end of the shaft 7 projects intothe housing. at which point it actuates the feeding and printing instrumentalities. At the front end of the housing adjacent the inner end of the shaft 7, is formed a slide-way 9, in which is reciprocally mounted the plunger 10. The plunger 10 itself being vertically reciprocated, is provided with a transverse or horizontal slide-way 11, in which is reciprocally mounted the slide-block 12. The shaft 7 is formed with an eccentric pin 13, upon its inner end, engaging loosely into an orifice of the slideblock 12.

. It is obvious that the rotation of the shaft '7 will vertically reciprocate the plunger 10, and this motion is utilized to operate the printing-head.

15 represents a frame plate at the end of the housing formed with a longitudinal slot- 16.

17 represents a cross-head formed upon the" plunger 10, the plunger projecting through the slot-l6, of the front plate 15.

18 represents a type-chase removably mounted in the cross-head 17, and may be of any general construction permitting interchangeability of type.

19 represents a printing platen secured beneath the cross-head and type-chase upon a forwardly projected knee formed integral with the main casing 2, see Fig. 3. This platen is preferably of a material slightly yielding, such as a felt pad and over which the tags are fed. In rear of the platen a stationary knife member 20 is fixed cooperating with the movable knife blade 21, mounted upon the plunger 10 in rear of the printing'head. The knife 21 may have a continuous cutting edge for entirely separating or severing the tags from a continuous strip, or, its cutting edge may be broken, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by a series of notches for partially cutting the tags, in which instance, the strip is cut by a series of slit cuts rendering an easy detachment of one tag from another.

As the printing and severing or piercing for severing of each tag is accomplished during the downward movement of the plunger and the feeding during the upstroke, a continuous operation is had.

The printing is preferably effected by means of an endless ribbon 22, engaging over the fixed positioned roller 23, and the spring actuated tension roller 24, the upper loop of the ribbon 25 passing over the platen 19. The roller 23 is formed with a ratchet wheel 26, actuated intermittently by the spring pawl 27, depending from the printing-head and engaging the ratchet wheel 26,

to rotate the printing ribbon one step each time the plunger 10 is reciprocated.

The feeding mechanism is located within the housing and operates to deliver predetermined lengths of the tag strip in step movements upon the platen for the final printing operation.

28 represents a bell crank lever fulcrumed upon a stud 29, at the upper end of the housing adjacent the rear edge of the plunger 10. The arm 30 of the lever being formed with a notch into which is projected a lug 32, formed on the rear edge of the plunger 10. It is obvious that a reciprocation of the plunger 10 will oscillate the lever 28.

33 represents a feedhfinger pivotally attached to the swingin end of the lever 28, its movement being further controlled by the spring 34, for purposes hereinafter described.

31 represents a table preferably formed integral with the front end of the housing, and it is provided on its face with a longitudinal groove 35.

36 represents an orifice engaging point formed on the front end of the finger 33, and depending downwardly toward the groove35.

The stationary knife 20 projects above the table 31, and is provided with a notch 37,

through which the tag strip is fed and alines' the tag orifices l with the table groove 35 and the finger point 36. The finger in its forward movement passes through the vertically extended portion of the notch formed in said knife 20, see Fig. 5. The strip is also held upon the table under tension by means of a spring actuated bar 38, pivoted to the inside of the housing. This bar 38 extends forwardly to a position adjacent the fixed knife 20, holding the paper firmly during the indentation, permitting the stri to be moved forward under the influence o the feeding finger and holding the strip against back lash as the finger is retracted.

In the operation of the device, the rotation of shaft 7 vertically reciprocates the plunger 10, the finger 33 moving forward over the table 31, as the printing-head moves upwardly from the platen, and vice versa. The bar 38 is also preferably provided with a pin 39, laterally projected over the finger 33, the engagement being loose but sufficiently to hold the finger in the path of its reciprocal movement. When the finger 33 is in its retracted position ready for. feeding, the point 36 rests lightly upon the upper face of the tag strip in alinement with the row of orifices 4 and with the table groove 35, the spring 3% holding the point in this relative position under slight tension. As the crank is rotated to move the finger forwardly, the point inevitably engages in one of the orifices 4, located in its path of movement, so that the point lies and travels in the groove 35, thus serving to positively feed the strip forward and surely deliver it a predetermined length. of tag upon the platen on the outside of the machine. As the crank continues its rotation, the tag is partly severed and printed, the front edge of the tag projecting beyond the front edges of the printing ribbon and platen, so that it can be detected by the operator In the movement of retracting the finger, the spring 34: has an additional function, that is, it slightly lifts the point, facilitating its withdrawal from the orifices and permitting the finger to move lightly in the rearward direction over the tag strip, without exerting any appreciable back lash of the same.

It is obvious from this description that only the last tag issued is printed, and it is partially .severed when it is printed, so that the operator knows that no printed tag remains in the machine.

Having described my claim 1. In a machine of the class described, a table, the front end of which constitutes a printing platen, means for supporting arch of paper pierced at intervals in position to be fed across the table, a reciprocating plungcr having a cross head projected over said platen, a type chase removably secured to said plunger cross head, a reciprocating arm on said table in rear of the printing head, having a point adapted to vcooperate with theorifices in the paper for intermittingly feeding the strip forward, and a rotary devlce having connections with said printing head and arm for operating them in tim movements.

2. In a machine of the class described, a table, the front end of which constitutes a printing platen, means for supporting a roll of paper pierced at intervals in position to be fed across the table, a reciprocating pluninvention, I

ger having a cross head projected over said platen, a type chase removably secured to said plunger cross head, a reciprocating arm on said table in rear of the printing head, having a point adapted to cotiperate with the orifices in thepaper for intermittingly feeding the strip forward, a knife carried by the rear portion of the, printing head for severing that portion of the paper strip which lies upon the platen, and a rotary device having connections with said printing head and arm for operating them in time movements.

3. In a machine of the class described, a table, the front end of which constitutes a printing platen, means for supporting a roll of paper pierced at intervals imposition to be fed across the table, a reciprocating printing head over said platen, a reciprocating arm on said table in rear of the printing head, having a point adapted to coiiperate with the orifices in the paper for intermittingly feeding the strip forward, a knife carried .by the rear portionof the printing head for severing that portion of the paper strip which lies upon the platen, a printlng ribbon passing over the platen, ribbon feeding mechanism therefor, and a rotary actuating device having connections with. said reciprocating arm the reciprocating printing head and the ribbon feeding mechanism foroperating said parts in time movements during one complete rotation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK KOHNLE.

Witnesses OLIVER B. KAISER, EMMA. SPnNEm 

